Sherman Oaks : Burglary, Armed Theft Top Crime Concerns

Burglary and armed robbery were the top two crime worries of Sherman Oaks residents, according to a poll conducted recently by the area homeowners association.

Auto theft/break-ins was the No. 3 concern raised by residents in the survey, in which 280 people participated, according to Jack Fox, head of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. policing committee.

“We’re dealing with perceptions as much as we’re dealing with reality,” said Fox. The poll, he said, was conducted to learn what area residents perceived to be the most important crime issues in Sherman Oaks, what they thought should be done to address them, and how they would like police to be deployed in the community.

Other concerns that followed the top three are, in order, aggressive panhandlers, the alleged congregation of gangs at the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park, youth crime and the nighttime solicitation at homes by sales people and charity workers.

Residents also noted in their returned questionnaires that they would like the police to be more visible in Sherman Oaks, respond faster to crimes and crack down on transients who residents say have been plaguing the community.

According to Fox, the results of the poll have been given to Capt. Richard Wemmer, commanding officer of the Van Nuys police station.

Fox said that the Police Department has said it will work with residents on solutions to the problems.